Michael Chabon Q&A

Q:Youíre very open about your influences. Some writers try to hide them. Is that something you do consciously?A: The first thing I ever wrotewhen I worked on something for a sustained period when I was about 10 or 11 years oldwas a Sherlock Holmes story in the voice of Dr. Watson. I came to realize that everything I do is fan fiction. I think everything that we all do, all fiction, is fan fiction in that you are always inspired to write by things that you love. So much of writing for me is about finding a way to convey my own love of other writersí work. When it comes to The Yiddish Policemenís Union, as soon as I allowed myself to step into the room with Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett and Ross Macdonaldwho I guess are my favorites in that school of writingI was honored, thrilled to be there.